Tigers
50 years later, Tigers get together
By Cassandra Tiersma
Thirty-four of the 73 members of Dunsmuir High School’s Class of 1969 came together Saturday to celebrate their 50th reunion.
Held at Pops Performing Arts Center, the event was catered by Tony & Eileen Congi, with bar service provided by the Dunsmuir Rotary Club.
The 1960s and 1970s music playlist for the event was prepared by DHS Class of ‘69 grad Gary Liepitz. A musician himself, Liepitz said he and four of his classmates, including fellow Class of 1969 grad Richard Reynolds, were actively performing in their own band during their high school years. Liepitz said sometimes they even had to miss their own school dances because they were booked to play at other schools.
The party got underway with a cocktail hour social during which old friends and classmates reconnected and shared news of their lives since high school.
Many remembered a time of upheaval during their senior year when the railroadshut down and relocated several of Dunsmuir's families to the Sacramento
area. Even so, they still identified themselves as Dunsmuir grads, in spite of the eleventh hour relocation.
Alumni traveled from far and wide to attend the reunion. Francie (Quinn) Greenfield traveled the furthest, from Iowa, and she said she flew all the way from her second home in Florida.
Rob and Barbara (Mathias) Greenfield, now grandparents of eight grandchildren, said they traveled 1,100 miles from their home in Mesa, Ariz. When asked if they were high school sweethearts, Barbara said no – she met Rob in a scuba diving class in Sacramento.
Steve and Pam Maneval have 11 grandchildren, and traveled from their home in Tucson, Ariz. and Gary and Jennie (Class of '68) Liepitz made the trip from their home in Alaska. The couple said they divide their time between Alaska and the Los Angeles area where all of their grandchildren live.
High school sweethearts, Jim and Kathy Slingsby also have 11 grandchildren.
When asked about her favorite song and fashion trends from high school, Pearl (Smith) Knoles said her favorite song was
“Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding, and her favorite fashion trend from high school were the bell bottoms.
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Twenty-nine of the original seventy-three Dunsmuir High School Class of 1969 alumni assembled for a group photo at their 50th Reunion at Pops Performing Arts Center on Saturday, June 15. PHOTO BY CASSANDRA TIERSMA
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This was the first DHS reunion Pearl has attended.
Lee Osborne said his favorite song was Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” which he added was originally meant to have been “In the Garden of Eden.” Osborne, who now lives in Grass Valley, said he especially liked bell bottoms, tie dye and paisley prints. Osborne said he has one granddaughter.
There were at least a couple of second-generation DHS alumni at the event. Both Becky Aguilara and Sharon (Nealon) Ross said their mothers were also Tigers. Sharon’s parents were Italian immigrants, and her mother, Selvina Brun, graduated from DHS in 1945 and was a well-known local beautician for many years.
Some classmates who had moved far away were surprised to learn that their former classmate Rebecca Cosentino is a published novelist. Cosentino said she’s currently getting ready to write the third book in a series of Korean themed novels.
Francie later said remembers how creative Cosentino has always been – when they were juniors in high school, they wrote a Christmas play together which was performed by the students. As a professional author, Cosentino now writes under the pen name R.L. Lee.
Vickie (Cool) Cooper and Cosentino discovered they both have plans to relocate to the Mediterranean. They talked about moving to either Portugal or Spain together after Vickie retires. Vickie said she is currently training to be a professional international judge for cat shows around the world.
Dinnertime conversation also turned toward memories about their shared experiences growing up in Dunsmuir. Francie, Vickie and Becky Aguilara reminisced about learning how to do a manicure from their home economics teacher, Mrs. Samuelson. They said, “Mrs. Sam taught us everything!”
After dinner, DHS alumni from other classes were welcome to join the group. At that time, an open mic was made available for anyone who wanted to share high school memories.
Newlyweds (married one year) Robert York and his bride, Teffany, who was born and raised in Oklahoma, kicked off the open mic portion of the evening by singing an a cappella version of the country western song, “Your Cheating Heart.” When reflecting back on the music of his high school days, Robert said his favorite song back then was “Yesterday” by the Beatles. The Yorks currently make their home in Talent, Ore.
After the performance, the Dunsmuir grads sang “Happy Birthday” to DHS Class of ‘69 graduate Larry Ashcroft. Larry’s wife, Christe, who was the reunion coordinator, told the audience that their lives revolve around fishing now that they are retired.
Cajoled by Christe to say a few words, Vickie shared the comical chain of events that happened to her upon returning to the area for the reunion. She was run off the road by a truck, then “got bit by a dog at Keith Cool's house,” and then got sprayed by a sprinkler when she was visiting the cemetery.
The group’s collective consensus was “how blessed” they were to have grown up in Dunsmuir.
The class of ‘69 won’t
have to wait another 50 or even 10 years until the next class reunion because there will be a “super reunion” for all Dunsmuir graduates at the Dunsmuir State of Jefferson Brewfest in 2020.
DHS Class of '69 alumni, Rebecca Cosentino and Vickie (Cool) Cooper share plans to move to the Mediterranean in the near future, during their 50th Class Reunion at Pops Performing Arts Center, last Saturday, June 15.
PHOTOS BY CASSANDRA
TIERSMA
Dunsmuir High School Class of 1969 alumni, Gary and Jennie (Class of '68) Liepitz with their friend Robert Grant, at the DHS Class of '69 50th Reunion at Pops Performing Arts Center last Saturday, June 15.
Fifty years after high school, all three are retired now. The Liepitzes make their home in Alaska, and Grant lives in Mt. Shasta.
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